The exhibit program includes a small aquarium, marine biology research laboratories in collaboration with Old Dominion University, and vast array of interactive exhibitry ranging from an underwater virtual reality experience to the reproduction of the bridge of a navy destroyer. The facility includes an Omnimax large screen Dodd-A-O format theater with special sound and visual effect. The seating capacity of the theater is 450. The remainder of the program includes classrooms, administrative offices; service and support facilities are housed in controlled environments.

The building is served by an independent boiler/chiller plant. Custom built fanless induced draft cooling towers were specified for silent operation to allow for the future completion of an outdoor rooftop exhibit. The interior of the building is fully sprinklered as well as the sheltered outdoor performance space beneath the building. The entire building is protected by an engineered smoke control system powered by the central emergency generator.

The design for the museum required both humidified and un-humidified galleries. The central plant provides heating and cooling for comfort, object preservation for traveling exhibits of all kinds, and service to the aquarium's animal life support systems. Indoor lighting ranges from the most basic HID lighting systems to the most sophisticated track mounted incandescent lighting.